Wrapping machine



5 Sheets-Sheet l c. H. PETSKEYES EI'AL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27,19:59

' Cfzar esflPefisfie es mdlsraeLGfiellm INVENTORS.

5% 4 77/5/38 ATTORNEY.

March 18, 1941.

March 1941- c. H. PETSKEYES ETAL 2,235.503

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gkarles flPeskigesand Israel 6. Gall/71a INVENTORS.

Mme ATTORNEY.

March 1941- c. H.-PETSKEYES ETAL 2,235,503

WRAP)? ING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet Z5darlesflpesfiqyes wdjsrael 6T Gellman f INVENTORS. [W512 ATTORNZ.

Patented 18, 1941 PATENT. oFFicE mam WRAPPING MACHINE 0. man Man as...n. iehk nl. Davenport. Iowa. and m Geliman. look island ontoGelb'nfaoturin: cui m n Island, m, a corporation of Illinois ApplicationFebruary 27, 19:9, Serial No. 258,074

This invention relates to improvements in wrapping machinery, and has asone of its principal objects a novel arrangement and construction ofwrapping instrumentalities including adjustable article-holding meansand a unitary control for adjusting the various article holding devicessimultaneously to accommodate articles of different length.

Another object is an improved end-fold mechanism arranged for adjustablecooperation with the other adjustable wrapping instrumentalities.

Another object is a terminal folding and sealing structure arranged foradjustable cooperation with the other wrapping instrumentallties.

Other objects and novel aspects of the invention relate to variousdetails of construction, arrangement and mode of operation of parts ofthe preferred embodiment described hereinafter in view of the annexeddrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top perspective view of the wrapping machine;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section lengthwise through the wrappingmachine shownin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of an article being initially wrapped by transferonto an elevator;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views of one of the end fold mechanisms inrelativeLv prograsive folding movements as the article is raised intoengagement therewith by the elevator;

Fig. 6 is an endwise perspective of one end fold mechanism and thereleasing means therefor;

Fig. 6-A is a modification of the mechanism of Fig. 6;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through one of the terminal fold platesthrough its pivotal mounting along line '|1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an outside perspective of one of the improved terminal foldplates;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section looking down on the loading table alongline 99 of Fig. 2; while Fig. 10 is a schematic layout of the adjustablecontrol means.

The preferred embodiment is first described in terms ofits generaloperation with particular reference to Fig. 2.

An object to be wrapped, such as the loaf of bread L, is initiallydeposited upon a loading table l5 between adjustable holding arms l6(see Fig. 9 also) opposite its ends. The loading table is reciprocatedon a track barl1 in timed cooperation with the movements of otherwrapping mechanisms including a vertically reciprocable wrapping carrieror elevator l8, so that when the elevator is in lowered position as seenin Fig. 2, the loading table I! will be aligned alongside the elevator.

The loaf L is pushed off of the loading table by a pusher ll into asheet of wrapping paper 20 which hangs from its upper end 20a on aholding table 2i, whereon said upper end is clamped by an automaticholding ball 22 which coacts with the elevator and paper feeding means10 to position a sheet of wrapping paper on the holding table at thebeginning of each wrapping cycle. Thus, the paper and loaf are pressedin between a pair of adjustable end fold arms 7 23 (see Fig. 9 also)which causes the lower end portion b of the wrapper to slide up beneaththe bottom of the loaf while other portions of the wrapper are foldedpartly over the opposite ends of the loaf by arms 23, still other(upper) portions of the wrapper being partly folded over 20 the top ofthe loaf (see Fi 3).

Thereafter, upward movement of the elevator causes the remaining upperportions of the wrapper sheet to be folded the rest of the way aroundthe top and over the adjoining side of the loaf 25 (since the uppermostend portions of the wrapper are substantially fixed). As the elevatormoves into fully raised position, the loaf is raised toward (Fig. 4) andforced between (Fig. 5) end fold rockers 25, which are clearly seen inFig. 1, to effect additional end folds in a manner hereinafter describedin detail. When the elevator has come to rest in fully raised position,a pair of transfer fingers 26 slide forward on rails 21 and push theloaf onto a heated sealing table 28 between special heated terminal foldplates 29. Succeeding loaves urge the preceding loaves on through theterminal fold plates onto a discharge table 30.

In order that the machine may accommodate articles or loaves ofdifferent length, the invention provides for adjusting movement of theholding arms I6 0n the loading table, the initial end fold arms 23 onthe elevator, the transfer fingers 26 at the upper station of theelevator, the terminal fold plates 29, and also the opposite guide rails3| (Fig. 1) over the discharge table. Moreover, the invention furtherprovides a unitary control means (see the perspective layout of Fig. 10)for simultaneously adjusting the 50 foregoing instrumentalities.

Beginning with the loading table, one of the holding arms I6 is mountedon an angle bracket l6b which is threaded onto a reversely threadedshaft 40 journaled as at 4| on the top of the freely through the ridingbracket and is secured on the smaller pivot angle so that the pivotedarm is urged into a normal position" parallel with its companion arm.-Should aloaf be improperly placed between the-holding arms II and 16a,the latter may yield. Means for rotating the threaded spindle 40 will bedescribed hereinafter.

The initial end-fold arms 23 (Fig. 9) are disposed in alignment with thearms l8, but move up and down with the elevator. To this end each ofthese arms 23 is secured at one end to a laterally projected offset 23a(Figs. 6 and 9) formed at the respective lower ends of verticallyreciprocable slide bars 23b each slidably mounted in sleeve castings 23csecured beneath one'end portion of the rails 21. vertically reciprocableslide bars rest ongthe top of the elevator l8 (Figs. 2 and9) and riseandv fall with the latter.

Adjustment of the initial end foldmeans -or' arms 23 is effected as aresult of the adjustable mounting of the rails 21 to which theisleeves230 are'attached. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, one end of each of therails 21 has a depending boss or block 21a which (Fig. 10 also) isthreaded on a reversely threaded main adjusting shaft 45 journaled inbosses 46 at opposite sides of the machine frame. One end of this shaftis provided with a manually operated adjusting crank 41, while theopposite end of the adjusting shaft is provided with a sprocket 48drivingly connected by a sprocket chain 49 with a sprocket 50 on anauxiliary or second reversely threaded cross shaft (see Fig. Theremaining support for the adjustable rails 21 is provided by dependingarms 21b which threadably engage respectively reversed threading on thesecond cross shaft 5|.

Turning of handle 41 effects corresponding turning of the reverselythreaded shafts 45 and 5| with a consequent movement of the railsupporting blocks 21a and 21b toward or away from each other. Thus, therails 21 may be moved toward or away from each other, and since thesleeves 230, which mount the initial end-fold slide bars 23b, areattached to the rails 21, the end-fold arms 23 are likewise moved towardand away from each other on the elevator to accommodate loaves ofdifferent length.

The holding arms IS on the loading table are arranged to be adjustablymoved correspondingly and simultaneously with the end fold arms 23 bymeans of a driving connection between the second or auxiliary crossshaft 5| and the threaded spindle 40 on the loading table. This drivingconnection includes a flexible shaft drivingly interconnecting thespindle 40 and shaft 5| and working in a flexible cable 52 so that theloading table is free to move notwithstanding its driving connectionwith the auxiliary shaft 5|. It may be observed here that the end foldrockers 25, as well as the terminal fold plates 29 and the dischargeguide bars 3|, are

The offsets 23a of-the' also mounted on rails 27, and hence are likewisemoved whenever the handle 41 is turned.

. After the initial end folds are made by pushing the loaf and wrapperin between the arms 23 on the elevator, additional or intermediate endfolds are effected by raising the partly wrapped loaf in between theintermediate endfold rockers 25 when the elevator is raised.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 6, this intermediate end-fold means includes apair of opposite mounting plates 25a each depending from one of therails 21 at positions corresponding to the ends of a loaf on theelevator when the latter is raised. The lower part of each mountingplate is offset outwardly, as at 25b, and provided on the inner sidewith spaced ears 25c (Figs. 1, 4, 6) between which a pintle 25d ismounted to extend through ears 25c on the fold plate 25, so that thelatter are disposed for rocking movement toward and away from theopposite ends of the object or loaf, springs 25f (Figs. 1 and 5)normally urging their respective rocking plates in a direction towardeach other for engagement with a loaf, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Theoffsets 25b provide a sort of recess into which the fold plates maypivot as the loaf moves into fully raised position.

In operation, the end fold rockers 25 are normally positioned as seen inFigs. 1 and 4, and the loaf or other object L is partly wrapped bytransfer from the loading table onto the ele- 'vator, in the mannerheretofore described (this phase of the wrapping being illustrated inFig. 3). As the elevator rises toward the end fold rockers 25, two'endor tail folds 60 and GI project as seen in Fig. 4. The top end fold 50is urged against the rocker 25 and the latter tilts toward uprightposition as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6 until the top end fold is firmlypressed down against the end of the loaf (and incidentally against theinitial fold arms 23 which are meanwhile holding the loaf on theelevator). The bottom end fold 6| lies on the top of the elevator, andthe end fold rocker plate 25 is provided with an angled extension 25gwhich rocks down snugly against the bottom fold BI and flattens thesame.

The loaf is somewhat firmly held between the arms 23 and the rockerplates 25, and to assure smooth positive movement of the loaf off theelevator by the transfer fingers 26, means is provided for automaticallyreleasing the tension of the rocker fold plates on the loaf. To thisend, each of the rocker plates 25 is provided with an arm 25h (Fig. 6)which extends into the path of upward movement of a projection 257' onthe laterally extending part or arm 23a of each of the verticallyreciprocable slide bars 23. Thus, when the slide bars are moved intofully raised position by the elevator on which they rest, theprojections 257' thereon will respectively engage the arms 25h on eachrocker plate and tilt the same away from the ends of the loaf into therecessed or offset parts of their respective mounting plates, thusrelieving pressure on the ends of the loaf.

In Fig. 6-A there is shown a modified arrangement of the mechanism ofFig. 6 wherein the rocking leverage is made adjustable by the provisionof a rocking arm 25K pivoted as at 25L on the baclrof the plates 25a,The rocker has a nose portion 25M which projects into the path of thebracket 23a carried by the elevator, So that as the latter bracket israised by movement of the elevator toward fully raised position,

2,285,508 into this advance station where it remains until the oppositeend IIN of the rocker arm is moved downwardly toward the extension lieon the folding rocker or plate. 'An'adiustable driving engagement isafforded between the rocker and folding plate by the provision of atappet screw 2'? which is threaded into a suitable boss at the end N ofthe operating maker and which may be adjusted to engage the extension Into effect the final or additional rocking of the rocker fold plate inselectively timed relationship to the movement of the elevatorinto fullyraised position.

At this juncture in the wrapping operation, the transfer fingers aremoved forward, from the position seen in" Fig. 1. against the loaf tomove the same in between the upright terminal fold plates 29, suchmovement of the fingers being effected through the properly timedmovement (toward the right, Fig. l) of a pair of crank levers 85 (onlyone seen in Fig. 1) which are mounted for oscillation on a secondarydrive shaft 86 (Fig. 9) at the end of the machine opposite the transferfingers.

A feature of importance is the driving connection between the cranklevers 6| and the transfer fingers. These transfer fingers 28 eachdepend from blocks 26a which slide on rails 21, and each block has aball and. socket or analogous swivel connection 26!; with one end of aconnecting rod 61, the opposite end of which is similarly swiveled inthe end 88 of the offset part of the corresponding crank lever 85. Thisarrangement makes it possible to shift the transfer fingersnotwithstanding their connection with the crank levers.

At the time the loaf is fully elevated and ready for removal by thetransfer fingers 28,

there remain end portions of the wrapper (not seen) on the forwardvertical edge of the loaf between the tails 60 and BI, and it will berecalled that the bottom end fold 6| has not yet been folded up, so thatterminal or final folding action is required, and this is effected bytransfer of the loaf from the elevator onto the sealing table 28 (Figs.1 and 2) in between the upstanding terminal fold and sealing plates 28.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 8, the upright forward edge 29 of each of thefold plates is positioned to be engaged by the unfolded end portions ofthe wrapper as the loaf moves in between the plates so that only thebottom end fold or tail 6i remains to be turned up. The table 28 isheated electrically, as are both of the upright plates 29 (heating meansbeing contained within the housin 10).

The remaining end fold is accomplished by movement of the loaf betweenand substantially beyond the terminal fold plates whereby the remainingbottom end folds or tails ii are caused to ride into upwardly arcuatedfolding slots 29a in each of the upright plates (Figs. 1 and 8), whichresults in the folding up of these tails by the time the loaf reachesthe forward or higher end of the slots, this fold being sealed by theremaining portions of the heated upright plates as the loaf moves ontothe discharge grating 01 table 30. I i

A feature of importance in connection with the sealing operation residesin the provision of a forward portion 28a of the heating table (Figs. 1and 2) between forward portions 2912, which in combination with theforward part of the table constitutes an advance heating station for theloaf. The movement of the transfer means or fingers 26 is calculated tomove the loaf only the next loaf pushes it on through the terminal foldplates. 7. As a result, the wax or other sealing agency on the paper isadequately melted to seal the bottom and all of the end folds except'thebottom tall I, the latter being sealed last. The resulting seal is firmand neat notwithstanding that there 'are several thicknesses of wrapperat the ends, due to the preheating and pressing of certain portions onlyof the and folds in the advance station. I

As the sealed loaves move out from between the upright or terminal foldplates, they are pressed in between the discharge guide rail structureII, where flnal cooling and congealing of the sealing substance (wax)occurs.

1 A further feature of the invention resides in the pivotal mounting ofthe terminal end fold plates on the rails 21 by means of pivot studs 29c(Figs. 1 and 7) extending through the rails into holes in bosses 28d(Fig. 8) above the forward or advance station" part of each terminalplate. Means for normally urging each terminal plate so as to widen thespace therebetween at the so-called advance station, includes theprovision of a spring lie on a lateral stud rod 29/ project ingoutwardly from each of the plates at the side of the pivot pointopposite the advance station. The stud rods project through elongatedslots Hg in cleats 29h (Figs. 1, 7, 8) secured to the rails 21. Thesprings bear against the cleats and urge the upright terminal foldplates so as to diverge the advance ends 29a thereof away from eachother. As a result, the transferred loaf is easily and safely moved inbetween the plates without danger of tearing or other damage due to anypossible irregularities in the shape, size or position of the loaf. Theposition of the pivot point limits the movement of the plates by a loafat the advance station so that there is always adequate pressure for thepreliminary heating and sealing.

As mentioned heretofore, the discharge guide rails II are suspended fromthe rails 21, this being accomplished by the provision of mounting rodsiia threaded into,or.otherwise attached, to

the underside of the rails and provided with suitable spacers to disposethe bars in spaced parallel relation.

In operation, the attendant places a loaf on the elevator in raisedposition to gauge the size of the loaf, whereupon he turns the crank 41(Fig. 1) until the initial end-fold and holding arms 23 on the elevatorare properly adjusted at the opposite ends of the loaf. Suchmanipulation of the unitary control or crank 41 shifts the rails 21which carry with them," and correspondingly gauge and position, theintermediate end-fold rockers 25, the terminal fold plates 29, as wellas the discharge bars 3 I. Also, due to the sprocket drive between themain adjusting shaft 45 and the secondary or auxiliary adjusting shaft(Fig. 10), and the flexible cable connection 52 between the auxiliaryshaft and the threaded spindle 48 on the loading table, the holding arms86, lid on the loading table are likewise properly gauged, only a singleadjustment being nec essary to condition the entire machine to receivethe loaf in question. Thereafter, similar loaves are moved (manually orautomatically) from a receiving table 84 (Figs. 1 and 9) onto thereciprocable loading table i5 between arms t5, and a clutch control(Fig. 1), on the side rail of the main frame, is actuated to start themachine, which will go through one complete wrapping operation and stop,whereupon another loaf is moved from the receiving table onto theloading table, it being observed that the loading table reciprocatesfrom its normal position of rest alongside the table II to a position inalignment alongside of the lowered elevator.

The objects, advantages, and economies of the invention may be realizedin other arrangements and forms of construction and operation of theparts of the preferred embodiment of the machine described in detailherein, and the appended claims are therefore understood to include allequivalent arrangements and embodiments fairly coming within theirscope.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a wrapping machine, in combination, a movable loading tablecooperable with an article elevator, adjustable article holding means onsaid loading table and movable therewith, adjustable end fold meanscooperating with said elevator for movement therewith to engage anarticle moved from said loading table onto the elevator, and mechanismactuated by a unitary control for 9, simultaneously and correspondinglyadjusting said holding means and said end fold means to accommodatearticles of different size in the machine.

2. In a wrapping machine, in combination, a movable loading tablecooperable with an article elevator and adjustable transfer means forremoving articles from said elevator, adjustable article holding meanson said loading table, adjustable end fold means cooperating with saidelevator for movement therewith to engage an article moved from saidloading table onto the elevator, and mechanism actuated by a unitarycontrol for simultaneously and correspondingly adjusting said holdingmeans, said transfer means, and said end fold means to accommodatearticles of different size in the machine.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, cooperatingwrapping instrumentalities including a plurality of movable articlecarriers and coacting means for effecting transfer of an article fromone carrier to another and subsequent removal of said article from thelast-mentioned carrier, adjustably movable article engaging means onsaid carriers, and relatively stationary, unitary control means, andcoacting adjusting mechanism operatively connected with said adjustableholding means for actuation to effect simultaneous correspondingadjusting movement of said holding means.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, cooperatingwrapping means including a reciprocable article elevator and areciprocable article loading table and means for automatically effectingmovement of an article thereon onto said elevator, transfer means forautomatically effecting removal of an article from said elevator aftermovement thereby to a predetermined, adjustably movable article holdingmeans on 'said loading table, adjustably movable article holding andwrapping means arranged for movement with said elevator, and terminalwrapping means including a pair of adjustably movable end fold members,together} with adjusting mechanism actuated by a unitary control andhaving driving connection with said holding means on the loading table,said holding and wrapping means on the elevator, and said end foldmembers, for simultaneous adjusting operation to accommodate articles ofdiiferent size.

5. In a wrapping machine, in combination, cooperating wrapping meansincluding a reciprocable article wrapping elevator and a reciprocableloading table coacting with said elevator and including means forautomatically moving an article thereon onto said elevator, transfermeans including spaced adjustabl movable article engaging membersarranged for timed movement relative to movement of the elevator toengage and move an article on the latter off of the same, adjustablyspaced end fold members between which an article is moved by saidtransfer means, adjustably movable article holding members on saidloading table, adjustably movable article engaging members arranged tomove with said elevator, and adjusting mechanism including a singlecontrol member and operatively interconnected with all of saidadjustably movable members to effect simultaneous adjustment thereofwhereby said machine may be adjusted to receive and wrap articles ofdifferent size by operation of only a single control.

6. In a wrapping machine, in combination, wrapping mechanism including areciprocable article wrapping elevator, adjustably spacedterminalfolding and sealing means opposite a particular reciprocalposition of said elevator, transfer means including adjustable articleengaging and moving members arranged at said particular position forcooperation with said elevator to transfer an article from the elevatorin between said terminal folding and sealing means, a reciprocableloading table and article ejecting means coacting with said elevator toeffect initial wrapping 01. an article by automatically transferring thesame into a wrapper and onto said elevator, adjustably movable articleholding means on said loading table, adjustably movable article holdingand initial wrapping means arranged to move with said elevator, andadjustment means including adjusting mechanism actuated by a unitarycontrol and operatively connected with said holding means on the loadingtable, said holding and initial wrapping means, said article engagingand moving members of the transfer means, and said terminal folding andsealing means, for simultaneous adjusting move ment of all of the same.

7. Ina wrapping machine, in combination, Wrapping mechanism including areciprocable article wrapping elevator, adjustably spaced terminalfolding and sealing means opposite a particular reciprocal position ofsaid elevator, transfer means including adjustable article engaging andmoving members arranged at said particular position for cooperation withsaid elevator to transfer an article from the elevator in between saidterminal folding and sealing means, adjustable guide means arranged toreceive and guide articles transferred as aforesaid away from saidterminal means, a reciprocable loading table and article ejecting meanscoacting with said elevator to effect initial wrapping of an article byautomatically transferring the same into a wrapper and onto saidelevator, adjustably movable article holding means on said loadingtable, adjustably movable article holding and initial wrapping meansarranged to move with said elevator, and adjustment means includingadjusting mechanism actuated by a unitary control and operativelyconnected with said holding means on the loading table, said holding andinitial wrapping means, said article engaging and moving members of thetransfer means, said terminal folding and sealing means, and said guidemeans, for simultaneous adjusting movement of all of the same. I

8. In combination, in a wrapping machine, coacting movable articlewrapping carriers and coacting means for automatically effectingtransfer of a narticle from one carrier to another, adjustably movablearticle receiving and holding means arranged to move with said carriers,adjusting mechanism for adjustably moving the holding means of aparticular one of said carriers, said adjusting mechanism being arrangedto move with said particular carrier, and relatively stationaryadjusting mechanism for moving the remaining article holding means associated with the other carrier, and means arranged to drivinglyinterconnect the aforesaid adjusting mechanisms for simultaneousadjusting operation.

9. In a wrapping machine, in combination, co-' acting movable articlewrapping carriers and coacting means for automatically transferringarticles from one particular carrier to another and from said othercarrier into adjustable folding means, adjustable article holding meansand operating mechanism therefor on said particular carrier, adjustablymovable supporting means positioned relative to said other carrier tomount a pair of article receiving and holding members for movement withsaid other carrier, said receiving and holding members being adjusted byadjusting movement of said supporting means, relatively stationaryadjusting mechanism for adjustably moving said supporting means, andmeans providing a driving connection between said stationary adjustingmechanism and said operating mechanism on said particular carrier,whereby simultaneous adjustment of the several article holding means forthe carriers may be effected.

10. In a wrapping machine, in combination, a reciprocable wrappingelevator and coacting reciprocable loading table, means forautomatically transferring an article from the table onto, and off ofsaid elevator in timed relation to the movement of the latter and saidtable, means providing a pair of supports mounted for adjustable spacingmovement opposite one terminus'of reciprocation of said elevator, a pairof article wrapping and holding members one. each of which is mounted onone of said supports so as to move adjustably toward and away from eachother responsive to adjusting movement of the support and said pair ofmembers being further mounted on said supports so. as to be moved-backand forth cooperably with said elevator, relatively stationary adjustingmechanism actuated by a unitary control for adjustably moving saidsupports, adjustably movable article holding means and actuatingmechanism therefor on said loading table, and means providing a drivingconnection between said stationary adjusting mechanism and the aforesaidactuating mechanism on said table for simultaneous adjusting operationby said unitary control.

11. In a wrapping machine, in combination, a vertically reciprocablewrapping elevator and a coacting horizontally reciprocable loadingtable, a pair of supports mounted above the upper terminus ofsaidelevator for adjustable spacing toward and away from each other in asubstantially horizontaldirection, relatively stationary adjustingmechanism including a manual control for adjustabiy moving saidsupports, wrapping instrumentalities mounted on said supports forengagement with opposite ends of an article on said elevator, adjustablymovable article holding means and adjusting mechanism therefor on saidloading table, together with means drivingly interconnecting saidstationary adjusting mechanism and said adjusting mechanism on theloading table for actuation by operation of said manual control.

12. In a wrapping machine, a vertically recip rocable article wrappingelevator and movable loading means coacting therewith, supports mountedfor adjustable movement in a substantially horizontal direction towardand away from each other above the upper terminus of said elevator,adjusting mechanism including a unitary manual control for adjustablymoving said supports toward and away from each other, coacting articleholding means mounted on said supports for movement with said elevatorand adjustably moved relative to each other by adjusting movement ofsaid supports, additional wrapping means mounted on said supports at oneside of said upper terminus, and means driven cooperably in timedrelation with the movement of said elevator into said terminus forengaging and moving a partly wrapped article thereon into wrappingengagement with said additional wrapping means.

13. In a wrapping machine, a vertically reciprocable article elevatorarranged for coaction with a movable loading device to partly wrap anarticle, adjustably spaced article holding members and adjustingmechanism therefor on said loading device; a pair of supports mountedabove the upper terminus of said elevator for adjustable spacingcorrespondingly with the spacing movesupports at one side of saidterminus to receive a partly-wrapped article from said elevator, andtransfer members adjustably mounted in spaced relation by said supportsand cooperating in timed relation with the movement of said elevatorinto raised position to remove an article therefrom into wrappingengagement with said additional wrapping instrumentalities.

14. In a wrapping machine, a vertically reciprocable article elevatorarranged for timed coaction with a movable loading device to partly wrapan article, adjustably spaced holding members and actuating mechanismtherefor movable with said device for adjustment to holdingly engageopposite ends of different sized articles placed on said device, a pairof horizontal supporting rails mounted above an upper terminus of saidelevator for adjustable spacing in mutually parallel relationshipcorresponding directionally with the spacing of said holding members onthe loading device, relatively stationary adjusting mechanism includinga manually controlled operating member for moving said rails, meansdrivingiy interconnecting said last-mentioned adjusting mechanism withsaid actuating mechanism on the loading device for simultaneousadjusting operation, an initial end fold and holding member mounted oneach of said rails in adjustably spaced relation to receive and holdsaid article, said end fold and holding members being further arrangedto reciprocate with said elevator, intermediate end fold members mountedin adjustably spaced relation by said rails to foldingly engage anarticle moved into said terminus by said elevator, terminal fold meansopposite said terminus, and means cooperating in timed relation withsaid elevator to transfer said article therefrom into operativeengagement with said terminal fold means. v

15. In a bread wrapping machine, a vertically reciprocable loaf elevatorarranged to effect initial partial wrapping of a loaf, a pair ofsubstantially horizontal rails mounted for adjustable spacing above theupper terminus of said elevator and adjusting means for spacing saidrails, initial end fold means including, members mounted by each of saidrails for adjustable spacing by said rails, each of said members beingmounted for vertical reciprocation and having lower portions movablydisposed on said elevator for reciprocation therewith, initial end foldand loaf ho'lding means on said lower portions of each of saidlast-mentioned members to engage opposite ends of a loaf movedtherebetween by a loading agency, intermediate end fold members mountedon each of said rails so as to be foldingly engaged by opposite ends ofa partly wrapped loaf elevated to said terminus, horizontallyreciprocated transfer members on said rails and actuated cooperably withsaid elevator to engage and remove said loaf therefrom and away fromsaid intermediate end fold members, terminal end fold members mounted inadjustably spaced relation by said rails in position to receive a loafremoved from said elevator by said transfer means.

16. In a wrapping machine, initial end fold means for cooperation with avertically reciprocable article wrapping carrier and a coacting loadingagency, said fold means comprising: spaced end fold arms mounted onspaced, codirectionallyefii eciprocable mounting members each having alower end portion disposed to rest on said elevator for movement up anddown thereby and therewith, an article being moved by said loadingagency against a wrapper in between said end fold arms whereby initialfolds of the wrapper are efiected at opposite ends of said article.

17. In a wrapping machine, intermediate end fold means for cooperationwith a vertically reciprocable article wrapping elevator and coactinginitial wrapping means, said end fold means comprising: a pair of foldmembers mounted in spaced relation near the upper terminus of saidelevator to be in a position substantially opposite the ends of apartly-wrapped article elevated to raised position by said elevator,said fold members each being mounted for rocking movement from a normalposition, inclined in a direction toward said ends of the raisedarticle, so as to lie across the path of said ends as the article iselevated into raised position, to a position substantially flush againstsaid ends'responsive to elevation of said article therebetween, meansyieldingly urging said fold members into normal position, each of saidfold members being provided with an extension moved thereby, responsiveto folding operation thereof, toward the supporting surface of saidelevator to pressingly engage fold portions on said article eiiected bysaid initial wrapping means and projecting on or above said supportingsuriaceof the elevator.

18. In a wrapping machine, intermediate end iold means cooperating witha vertically reciprocable article wrapping elevator and coacting initialend fold means, said intermediate end fold means comprising: a pair ofrocker plates mounted near the upper terminus of said elevator forrocking movement toward and away from the ends of an article elevated tosaid terminus on the elevator, means yieldingly urging each of saidrocker. plates into a normal position to project across the path of saidends of the article for engagement by the same as the article is movedinto elevated position, said rockers being rocked into position pressingsubstantially flush against said ends by movement of said article intofully elevated position, and means operably controlled by movement ofsaid elevator into fully raised position for additionally rocking saidrockers to relieve the pressure thereof against said end of the articlewhen the elevator is in fully elevated position.

19. In a wrapping machine, terminal fold means comprising-a pair of foldplates each mounted for upright pivotal movement about substantiallyvertical axes into and out of parallel relationship, the extremitiesthereof in one horizontal direction constituting the leading portionthereof of the pair of plates and between which leading portions anincompletely wrapped article is moved with each of its opposite endsapproximately flush with one of said plates, and means yieldingly urgingsaid plates to diverge said leading portions thereof to widen theentrance space into which said articleismoved.

20. In a wrapping machine of the type employ-.

lng wrapping material sealed by heating, terminal folding and sealingmeans comprising: a pair of electrically heated folding and sealingplates each mounted upright for pivotal movement about substantiallyvertical axes into and out of parallel relationship, the pivotal axesthereof being situated between opposite edge portions of the respectiveplates in a horizontal direction, one of said edge portions of eachplate constituting a leading edge, means yieldingly pivoting said platesso as to diverge said leading edges to widen the space into which anarticle of predetermined size incompletely wrapped with the aforesaidwrapping material may be moved, said plates having means engaged byportions of said wrapper to fold same by movement of said articlebetween said plates, said wrapper also being sealed during transit ofthe article between the plates.

21. In a wrapping machine, terminal wrapping and sealing means for usewith wrapping material sealed by heating, said terminal wrapping andsealing means comprising: a pair of upright, electrically heated foldplates facing each other and between which the opposite ends of anincompletely wrapped article is moved in a particular and substantiallyhorizontal direction, means providing a heating table beneath saidplates over which the article is moved as aforesaid, means on saidplates between the entrance and exit extremities thereof for effectingend folds, there being a heated space on said plates and heating table,between the entrance extremities and said folding means constituting apreheating station adequate to accommodate one article of predeterminedaverage size, together with mechanism for moving an incompletely wrappedarticle into said preheating station between said plates, the articleresting in said preheating station until moved therefrom on through saidterminal fold means and past said plates by articles subsequently movinginto said preheating station.

22. In a wrapping machine, intermediate end fold means cooperating witha vertically reciprocable article wrapping elevator and enacting initialend fold means, said intermediate end iold means comprising: a pair offolding rocker members mounted near the upper terminus of said elevatorfor rocking movement toward and away from the ends of an articleelevated to said terminus on the elevator, means yieldingly urging eachof said folding rocker members into a normal position to project acrossthe path of said ends of the article for engagement by the same as thearticle is moved into elevated position, said rockers being rocked intoposition pressing substantially flush against said ends by movement ofsaid article into fully elevated position therebetween, and meansincluding an adjustable arm for each rocker and arranged for engagementand movement by means coacting with said elevator when the latter ismoved toward fully raised position for additionally rocking said rockermembers to relieve the pressure thereof against the ends of the articlewhen the elevator is in fully elevated position.

23. In a wrapping machine, folding means including a pair of oppositefold plates each arranged tor pivotal movement about parallel verticalaxes, said axes being respectively positioned between the oppositeextremities of said plates in a horizontal direction, and meansyieldably pivoting said plates to diverge corresponding ends thereof,constituting leading edges, to widen the path between said plates for anarticle moving in between the same, said plates thereafter pressingtightly against said article as the same moves away from said leadingedges past said pivotal axes, whereby the pressure of said plates isprogressively increased as the article moves between the same.

CHARLES H. PEI'SKEYES. ISRAEL 0. GELIMAN.

